The Mega Wealth Academy

Talking the talk - how to get rich quick

A business scheme promising an annual income of £100,000 working from home is an attractive proposition indeed.

So attractive and convincing that investors were willing to part with £4,000 to join.

They thought they were becoming members of an exclusive club … the 'Mega Wealth Academy'.

One of just 15 people, with exclusive world wide rights to sell a series of publications, including "The Layman's Guide to an Immense Free Fortune" and "The Mega Wealth tax free Cash System".

The Scheme was being run by a company called 'Lord and Thomas', founded by Simon Johansson.

The company promised that the products had limitless global appeal.

But members of the 'Academy' who contacted Inside Out, lost thousands of pounds to the scheme, and when they asked for their money back under the cast iron money back guarantee, they received nothing.

Academy members are not the only ones who feel let down by the company. Author of the "Tax Free Cash System", John Duncan, lives in Cambridgeshire.

When he found out how his book, which is a spread betting system actually called the "Football Cash Generator", was being marketed, he was very unhappy.

He obtained a written undertaking from Simon Johansson that he would not continue to market it.

But Inside Out obtained evidence that Simon Johansson did not honour this agreement and was continuing to sell the product and make money from it.

Inside Out tracked down the company's founder Simon Johansson and director of Lord and Thomas Barbro Johansson to their base in Sweden.

They refused to give an interview - but Simon Johansson said in a written statement:

"I am aware of many members who have made a profit... all valid refund requests are honoured. I have marketed and sold a book on behalf of John Duncan... I no longer sell the book."

Links relating to this story:

• BBC News - Working from home
• Homeworking
• The National Group on Homeworking

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Dogs of War

Dogged determination - dogs of war in Essex

Every war has its heroes - but the incredible bravery and courage shown by one group of combatants in the First World War has been all but forgotten.

Which is a pity because what they did revolutionized warfare - and it all happened in Essex.

The idea of using dogs in warfare was pioneered by an Essex man, Col. Edwin Richardson.

It took him years to convince the authorities - but man's best friend went on to help us win the war.

Richardson had grown up with dogs and was convinced they could play a major part in the war - as guard dogs and sentries - but more importantly as messenger dogs running back vital information from the front-line or taking vital medical supplies to soldiers wounded in no-man's land.

But the generals weren't interested. Despite Richardson's protests, England entered WW1 as the only European nation that did not have an active military dog programme.

What's more, many of the dogs being used by the Germans were British. He may have been snubbed by the military, but Richardson was determined not to give up.

In 1916 there was a break-though when two of Richardson's Airedales excelled at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

The British generals finally gave him the go-ahead to set up a war dog training school at Shoeburyness in Essex

Links relating to this story:

• British War Dogs
• The Kennel Club
• 1914-1918
• Imperial War Museum

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Six years in bed

Six years in bed - coping with ME

Twenty-year-old Claire Wade from Norfolk has ME.

Once a happy active child, she fell ill aged 10 and has spent the last six years in bed.

Too weak to hold normal cutlery, all her meals are eaten with a plastic fork.

Her mother does everything for her - and her only contact with the outside world is through the e mails and letters she receives from her pen-pals.

Claire decided to let our cameras into her small world, to show what it is like to have the illness.

ME is officially recognised - but is still mysterious and controversial.

The predominant symptom is chronic fatigue, often following an infection - but symptoms vary and there is no standard diagnostic test that can be performed.

Claire has missed out on her teenage years. But she still hopes to recover.

Recently she has been able to tolerate sunlight once again so can now take weekly trips around the garden in her wheelchair.

Inside Out East follows her story.

Links relating to this story:

• BBC News - ME
• Action for ME
• ME Association
• CFS Facts
• Co-Cure Project
• NHS Direct

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites